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Rites of Passage in French and African Cultures: An Overview

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Rites of Passage in French and African Cultures: An Overview
Joyce Dolford
Child and Adolescent Psychology/PSY260
A02
Faculty: Robert Kurklen
May 01,2015

Rites of Passage in French and African Cultures
There are various rites of passage in various cultures across the globe. Rites of passage in different cultural settings bear various similarities and differences. With respect to the African and French cultures, the rites of passage share various similar characteristic features;  Baptism after birth is one of the key similar rite of passage that is found in the African and in the French cultures (In
Higgins, 2011).
Marriage is another rite of passage found in both the French and
African cultures. Marriage is considered an important rite of passage in the two cultures due to the meaning it bears with respect to societal continuity.

Comparison with Common U.S rites of Passage
The rites of passage in the African and French cultures share similar and different characteristic features and aspects with those of the American culture.
The rites of passage in the American culture mainly contains components and aspects of;
The acquisition of a license in order to be allowed to drive an aspect that is considered essential in this culture
Graduation from high school
The entry into the work market and get a good job with a good salary

The rites of passage in the American culture has striking differences with those that are existent in the African and French cultures. The differences with respect to rites of passage in these cultures are clearly evident in the following ways;
 The American culture is different from the African and French cultures in that it pays greater attention to concepts and aspects of personal development and financial development aspects that are absent in the African and French cultures with respect to rites of passage (In Higgins, 2011).The personal development aspects in the rites of passage of the American culture include;
The completion and subsequent graduation fro high school which
is



References: Adams, G. R., Gullotta, T. P., & Montemayor, R. (1992). Adolescent identity formation In Higgins, C. (2011). Identity formation in globalizing contexts: Language learning in the new millennium. Montemayor, R., & Adams, G. R. (1985). Adolescent Development within a Family Context. Journal of Early Adolescence. Wendt, A. (1994). Collective Identity Formation and the International State.

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